Wighton beats suspension to make debut

Players jump over many hurdles to make their NRL debut, but a judiciary hearing is rarely one of them.

Last night, Canberra's Jack Wighton overcame the prospect of a suspension to confirm himself for his first first-grade game this Saturday, against Gold Coast at Skilled Park.

The 19-year-old had been charged with a grade-two dangerous throw on Melbourne's Young Tonumaipea in a Toyota Cup clash on Saturday.

Coach David Furner, thus, looked as happy as Wighton last night, slapping his newcomer's leg after the charge was downgraded to a grade-one offence, clearing him to make his debut.

''It's unreal,'' Wighton said afterwards. ''A lot of thanks to the coach.''

Glenn Jackson